Mixed reality combiner

Abstract

An optical waveguide combiner having an output coupler comprising an array of embedded partially reflective dielectric mirrors expanding and coupling a virtual, optionally color, image generated by a laser display engine into a user EMB, wherein the dielectric mirrors are configured having a wavelength band for each lasing band of the laser display engine that includes wavelengths of light in the lasing band and in a range of wavelengths over which the lasing band is expected to drift, a reflectivity angular range exhibiting a first reflectivity, a transmittance angular range exhibiting a second reflectivity less than the first reflectivity, and a see-thru angular transmittance range having high transmittance for natural light incident on the facets.

1 . A waveguide combiner comprising:
 a first waveguide comprising first and second parallel totally internal reflecting face surfaces having a normal “n W ”;   an input aperture through which light enters the first waveguide;   an output coupling configuration associated with an output coupling region, which expands the input aperture in at least one direction, and through which light that enters the first waveguide exits the first waveguide; and   an output coupler comprising a plurality of parallel facets embedded in the first waveguide and having a facet tilt angle β between n W  and a normal “n f ” to the facets which facets reflect light that propagates along the first waveguide and is incident on the facets out through the output coupling region, the facets having:   a facet wavelength band for each lasing band of at least one lasing band of light provided by a laser that includes wavelengths of light in the lasing band and in a range of wavelengths over which the lasing band is expected to vary;   a reflectivity angular range exhibiting a first reflectivity for light having a wavelength in the facet wavelength band that propagates in the first waveguide and is incident on the facets in a first range of incident angles;   a transmittance angular range exhibiting a second reflectivity less than the first reflectivity for light having a wavelength in the facet wavelength band that propagates in the first waveguide and is incident on the facets in a second range of incident angles; and   a see-thru angular transmittance range having high transmittance for natural light incident on the facets in a third range of incident angles.